The Israel Airports Authority released August flight data today, marking one of the busiest summer months ever at Ben Gurion Airport. More than 2.5 million passengers passed through the airport during the month, with a daily average of 95,000 to 100,000 travelers.
According to the report, 2.65 million passengers flew in August—a roughly 20% increase compared to August 2025, when about 2.2 million passengers passed through Ben Gurion. Cumulatively, from the start of January through the end of August 2026, total passenger count stands at 11,118,327.
The airline that carried the most passengers in August was El Al, with about 812,000 passengers and a 30% market share. Israir came in second with about 345,000 passengers, and Arkia third with about 323,000 passengers.
The surprise in this month’s rankings is fourth place: Blue Bird, an Israeli-owned airline operated by Kav Hofsha, overtook Wizz Air and flew more than 228,000 passengers during August, capturing an 8% market share.
What about the year-to-date numbers? Here too El Al leads by a significant margin, with more than 4 million passengers and a 39% market share. Israir holds second place with about 1.2 million passengers and an 11.5% share, followed by Arkia with about 1.2 million passengers and roughly 11%. Wizz Air, the major low-cost carrier, has flown more than 730,000 passengers since the start of the year, representing about 6.5% of the market.
Where did Israelis fly most in August?
The leading destinations were Greece, Cyprus, Italy, and the United Arab Emirates.
And year-to-date?
Greece, Cyprus, the United States, and Italy.
Which cities saw the most flights in August?
Larnaca, Athens, Crete, and Rhodes.
And year-to-date?
Athens, Larnaca, Dubai and Paris.
Bottom line: August shows just how strong demand for flights remains, with Greece and Cyprus continuing to dominate Israeli travel preferences while domestic carriers strengthen their position at the top. The data also points to an interesting shift in airline rankings during the busiest summer month—with Blue Bird managing to break into the top four for the first time.